Introduction
Do you know why we could not live without biodiversity? First, let's define this concept.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem/ community diversity. This means that encompassing all living organisms from bacteria to humankind are part of this concept. It plays a critical role in sustaining the health of both humans and nature, providing us with essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and oxygen.
However, biodiversity is currently facing a hard time due to human activities such as deforestation, the use of fossil fuels, overfishing or monoculture, which causes a massive loss of many species and habitats. The consequences of this loss are visible in our environment, economy and society.
This webquest will explore the causes and effects of biodiversity loss and offer solutions to help protect and restore it. You will discuss some controversial opinions about this topic and recognize actions that you could include in your daily life to preserve biodiversity.
Task
For this lesson you will read about some causes of biodiversity loss and its effects in human life, and you will also research actions that you could do to help biodiversity preservation. By the end of this lesson, you will know why biodiversity is important and how can you contribute to its protection.
After reading the texts and watching the video on the process page, you will discuss in groups of three the questions in the same page. Then, you will research ways to contribute biodiversity preservation. Considering all your perspectives, you will write an argumentative text explaining why some actions are the most relevant to preserve biodiversity.
Process
Let's check some basic information
1. Read the following page about how biodiversity loss affects human health.
2. Watch the Youtube video to clarify some information.
3. Make groups of three with your partners and discuss the following questions.
- Is climate change something that has real impact on biodiversity loss?
- Is technology a viable solution for biodiversity loss?
- Does biodiversity protection affect economic development in any way?
- What could create disagreement about biodiversity protection in people?
4. Research actions that you could apply in your daily life to help biodiversity protection. Each group must select at least 3 actions that they consider the most important.
5. Considering all the answers discussed at the third point, you will write an argumentative text explaining why some actions are the most relevant to preserve biodiversity.
- You must include at least 3 actions that you could apply in your daily life.
- The text must be convincing and clear.
- If you don't know how to write an argumentative text, you can check this link: https://www.becas-santander.com/en/blog/argumentative-text.html
Evaluation
Category |
1.25 | 0.95 |
0.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
Structure |
The text follows an argumentative text structure with an introduction, the body of the argument and a conclusion. It tries to convince the reader about a specific position. |
The text almost follows an argumentative text structure, with at least the body of the argument and introduction or conclusion. It shows a position, but it is not convincing. | The text doesn't follow an argumentative text structure. It doesn't have introduction, body of the argument, or conclusion. It doesn't take a position and it doesn't convince the reader. |
Actions |
There are at least 3 actions in the text. | There are only 2 actions in the text. | There is only one action in the text. |
Realism |
The actions are realistic to be included in a daily life routine. | The actions are difficult to be included in a daily life routine. | The actions are completely unrealistic to be included in a daily life routine. |
Language usage |
The use of words is detailed and easy to understand. There are few or no mistakes in grammar, punctuation or spelling. |
The use of words may be confusing and not contextualized. There are more than 10 mistakes in grammar, punctuation or spelling, but they don't make difficult to understand the text. | The use of word is poor and they do not correspond to the context. There are more than 15 mistakes in grammar, punctuation or spelling, and they don't make sense on the text. |
Max: 5.0 Min: 1.0
Conclusion
In conclusion, the importance of biodiversity is so notable that affects many aspects in every human life. Soon, some medicines will be impossible to get and many lives will be lost, also hunger, droughts, floods and breathing diseases will become more common around the world if biodiversity loss continue at the same rhythm.
We, as humans, are the main responsible for biodiversity loss. This is caused by many human activities such as deforestation or the use of fossil fuels that growth massively in favor of economic development, but the consequences are strong for everybody. The solution to the problems caused are also our responsibility, technology may be helpful to protect biodiversity, but it is not the definitive answer; humans need a lifestyle that doesn't disturb the life equilibrium.
Everybody can contribute to protect biodiversity, there are some individual actions that contribute to its protection. Anyway, only a massive participation of people, governments and companies could create a huge difference without affecting economical growth and at the same time protect biodiversity, human life, and health.
Teacher Page
By Jose Ricardo Jimenez Garcia
English Communicative Competence V
UPB